• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy New Mexico top prosecutor shifts focus to addressing child civil rights
Economy

New Mexico top prosecutor shifts focus to addressing child civil rights

by January 16, 2023
by January 16, 2023 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

New Mexico’s top prosecutor wants to start a conversation with lawmakers and the governor in hopes of charting a new course for a state beleaguered by violent crime, poor educational outcomes and persistently dismal child welfare rankings.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who took office Jan. 1 after serving as the district attorney in New Mexico’s busiest judicial district, wants to focus on the civil rights of children by providing them with legal representation.

The Democrat says New Mexico is off the charts when it comes to abuse and neglect — and creating a special unit within the attorney general’s office could help turn the tide when it comes to combatting adverse childhood experiences that often result in youth ending up in the criminal justice system.

Torrez outlined priorities for his administration and for the legislative session that begins Tuesday in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

While acknowledging the suite of public safety, bail reform and gun control bills to be introduced by lawmakers, he said he wants more of the focus to be on the role that child well-being plays in the state’s problems.

Torrez worked on one of the state’s highest profile child abuse cases while in private practice and was often asked as district attorney about the source of Albuquerque’s crime and public safety problems.

He said there’s been a lot of talk about drugs and guns but he believes it comes back to what happens when children end up in dangerous or destabilized homes or don’t get the help they need in the classroom.

‘The people that we’re trying to detain today are usually kids that have been failed by the system 15 and 20 years before. That’s where they end up,’ he said. ‘And so what I’m trying to do now is move the lens and move my focus not away from public safety, but further upstream to see if there’s a way for us to prevent people from coming into contact with the criminal justice system in the first place.’

Advocates who have been pushing for years for child welfare reforms in New Mexico are excited about the prospects. Some describe it as a ‘public health crisis,’ pointing to scientific research that shows abuse, neglect and other adverse experiences have been known to result in negative outcomes later in life.

New Mexico would join California and other states that have special offices focused on children’s rights or independent oversight panels that monitor child welfare agencies.

West Virginia, for example, has an office dedicated to educational stability for foster youth and juvenile justice and more than a dozen other state legislatures enacted bills in 2022 to establish advisory councils, boards and study committees focused on streamlining child services and accountability.

In New Mexico, the Children, Youth and Families Department has experienced turnover during Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration and the current secretary — retired Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil — has vowed to make changes.

The agency has been criticized not only for removing children from their homes faster than they should have but also for not taking them into care when abuse was suspected, resulting in legal action.

Maralyn Beck, executive director of the nonprofit New Mexico Child First Network, described the system as broken and said she’s encouraged by the attorney general’s focus on the issue.

‘Solutions exist,’ she said. ‘We have to prioritize this as a true crisis that needs addressing while understanding we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.’

Veronica Montano-Pilch, executive director of New Mexico Kids Matter, said her organization has about 500 court-appointed volunteers around the state who look out for children as their cases work through the system and working with Torrez’s office would help.

‘Say there’s a waterfall and if you’re at the bottom and you’re just pulling people out, what good is that?’ Montano-Pilch said. ‘They’re already wet, they’re already drowning.’

New Mexico persistently ranks as worst in the U.S. when it comes to factors of child well-being. The latest report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows one in four New Mexico children live in poverty and more than one-third have parents without secure employment. New Mexico also has the nation’s highest rate of children suffering from adverse experiences, according to national studies and the state’s top health officials.

Legislation aimed at fixing the problems isn’t new. Last year, lawmakers approved a measure creating a new office that would provide legal representation for certain children, parents and guardians whose children are at risk of being placed in state custody.

However, a bill that would have created an ombudsman oversight position stalled in the state Senate last year.

The attorney general said he believes the level of frustration has reached a point where people are ready for change.

‘They’re tired of seeing broken institutions,’ he said. ‘They’re tired of seeing these kids placed in harm’s way and we have the ability to do something. Other states have these kind of systems in place and I think we’re ready for it here in New Mexico.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Johnson likely forced to get Dem help on foreign aid plan as Republicans decry lack of border measures
  • Defense Secretary Austin visits Ukraine as Pentagon urges Congress to pass additional aid to fight Russia
  • Bold prediction: What the Senate GOP campaign chair says about winning back the majority
  • Michigan passes bill to protect abortion-seekers from discrimination
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
How Much Do You Need to Start Trading Options?
next post
Options Strategies for Small Accounts

You may also like

Sen Hawley on Father’s Day: Strong father figures ‘desperately’ needed...

June 19, 2023

Republicans Gaetz and MTG trade blows on Twitter as bad...

January 19, 2023

GOP says ‘no surprise’ Dems mingled with Chinese operative suspected...

April 25, 2023

Russian official cites Islamic ‘sleeper cells’ as death toll in...

June 24, 2024

GOP infighting over Ukraine aid threatens to derail defense spending...

September 28, 2023

‘I AM 100 OUT OF 100’: Meet Alabama’s new senator,...

January 17, 2023

Gazans report UNRWA staff stealing, selling aid: watchdog

May 10, 2024

Former Ukraine prosecutor makes explosive claims against Joe and Hunter...

August 26, 2023

US top general says tensions in Middle East have ‘somewhat’...

August 27, 2024

Trump’s 2024 GOP rivals weigh in on former president’s January...

August 2, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • How to Find Compelling Charts in Every Sector

      July 10, 2025
    • White House accuses Powell of mismanaging Federal Reserve, citing headquarters renovation

      July 10, 2025
    • Italian chocolate giant Ferrero to buy Kellogg’s Froot Loops maker

      July 10, 2025
    • OpenAI to release web browser in challenge to Google Chrome

      July 10, 2025
    • Sports executive charged with bid-rigging in Texas arena project

      July 10, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 3,631 views
    • 2

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,919 views
    • 3

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,607 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,577 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,451 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,171)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,662)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 2

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 3

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • How to Find Compelling Charts in Every Sector

      July 10, 2025
    • White House accuses Powell of mismanaging Federal Reserve, citing headquarters...

      July 10, 2025
    • Italian chocolate giant Ferrero to buy Kellogg’s Froot Loops maker

      July 10, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,171)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,662)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Tensions reach boiling point in House...

    September 30, 2023

    Top 5 moments from Kamala Harris’...

    August 30, 2024

    Johnson urges Biden to intervene in...

    April 30, 2024
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here